Choose the Right Vegan Running Shoe

Vegan-Running-Shoes

If running is a part of your exercise routine and you care about animals and supporting cruelty companies, this blog post on vegan running shoes is for you!

Let’s talk about picking the right running shoe for your individual needs first. Here are 5 things that need to be taken into consideration when choosing the best shoe for you.

1. Pronation

Pronation has to do with how your foot rolls in or out, or stays straight. The following illustrations from BuzzFeed do a great job showing you what this looks like. There are different types of shoes that work best for each type.

Normal Pronation for a vegan runner

Overpronation for Vegan Runners

Underpronation for Vegan Runners

Images Credit: Alice Mongkongllite / BuzzFeed

2. Foot Strike

Foot strike refers to what part of your foot hits the ground first when running. There is the forefront strike, midfoot strike, and heel strike. There seems to be some inconsistencies among experts when it comes to which is the “best.” A midfoot strike may cause the least impact on your joints, but it seems to also depend on your own body mechanics and the shoe you choose. Changing your shoe to one with a lower heel can be helpful if you tend to heel strike and are having joint pain.

3. Cushion

How much cushion do you want between your foot and the ground? This infographic from RoadRunnerSports illustrates the different levels of cushion. The best one for you will depend on what feels most comfortable and works best with your body mechanics.

Cushion Level for vegan runners

 

 

4. How many miles you run per week

The more miles you run, the more durable your shoe needs to be. 

5. Shoe Size

Generally speaking, your running shoe should be at least 1/2 a size larger then your “normal” shoe size. This is because your feet swell and spread during your run. For some people, including myself, a full size larger end up being the most comfortable when running more than a couple miles. 

I recommend finding a specialized running store where the staff will help you figure out the best running shoe for your needs. Find a store that has a treadmill so your gate can be examined to determine the answers to all the questions I mentioned. 

Now for making sure you buy a cruelty free/vegan running shoe. Don’t worry, it’s easier than you think! A ton of companies use synthetic materials instead of leather, and some quality companies are completely vegan-friendly. PETA created a great infographic to help us be informed about running shoe companies vegan status: 

 

vegan-running-shoe-guideI hope this helps you on your quest to find the right vegan running shoe. Any runners out there that have other tips please share!

 

Vegan Fashion Line Vaute Couture

Vaute Couture vegan fashion

Vaute Couture “spelled for Haute Couture with a V for vegan, but said like VOTE” is an awesome vegan fashion label founded by former Ford model, Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart in the summer of 2009.

Leanne has had a passion for animals and the environment since she was 10 years old and became vegan when she was 17. This girl cares!! In addition to using faux fur and leather, she also uses organic, recycled and high-tech fabrics. Her mission is to take animals out of the fashion equation and she was the first all vegan line to show at New York fashion week.

The line has a little vintage/hipster vibe and consists of tees, sweat-shirts and really chic jackets for the Fall/Winter. Definitely what the brand is known for!  Check out a few of my faves below and you can shop the site as well.

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Vegan Fashion: Soul Flower “Cool threads for kind heads”

soul flower vegan-friendly clothing line

A true hippie vegan fashion company right here… Soul Flower is an online retailer that offers eco-friendly threads for the whole family.  

The company was started in 1999 by “Mike & Peggy in the form of a small shop on Grand Avenue in Saint Paul, MN where college students and locals could hang out and find cool bohemian and eco-friendly threads.” The duo could also be found vending at local music festivals, spreading the vibe wherever they went.”  What I love is that they have a strong focus on giving back and work with several different organizations which focus on everything from feeding to the poor to raising awareness on our diminishing environment. I specifically couldn’t help but notice the cute outfits for your little ones so that’s what I grabbed some pics of…can’t feel bad about shopping on this site for sure! Positive vibes all the way!! 🙂 

 

soulflower

 

Vegan-Friendly Mel Shoes!

Mel-Vegan Shoes

SANDEL

I remember when I first discovered Mel Shoes at a trade show years ago… I was instantly smitten with the styles and fact that they are cruelty-free!

The shoes are vegan-friendly jelly shoes with playful, imaginative designs available in many fun silhouettes. Mel’s designs are ethically manufactured in Brazil with their signature bubblegum scented recyclable plastic. How cool is that?! Recently they have partnered with some HUGE names in fashion such as Vivianne Westwood and Mr. Karl Lagerfeld which is amazing!! They are sold in retailers all over and online you can easily find them on the likes of Zappos and Amazon as well as their online store. These shoes are definitely a must-have for the summer and of course they have super cute rain booties as well. A vegan brand I will certainly be rocking!

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Online Vegan Fashion Boutique: ASOS – Green Room “Eco Edit”

Asos Vegan Products

ASOS Green Room “Eco Edit” is a great online boutique dedicated ” collections with an ethical or eco-conscious story to tell. ”

Since it’s the middle of Summer, if you’re like me, you love an easy breezy dress to throw on with a cute pair of sandals and be on your way. Well ASOS has a great selection and they mostly priced under $100! You can also shop other categories as well so basically it’s a great place to find all kinds of cool eco-friendly fashion. Check out the site HERE! 

 

Asos

Calico Dragon Vegan Bags

Calico Dragon Vegan Bags

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Calico Dragon is a super cool line of vegan bags and the best part it was started with the sole purpose of benefiting animals.

Not only does the brand donate a portion of their sales to various animal charities, but they also have cruelty-free messages incorporated into the designs. According to their website, the “bags are completely vegan and constructed from up-cycled materials. Since we order such a small number of bags, the fabric used to make our bags is purchased from factories out of their “scrap” material, which would otherwise end up in a landfill. Heavy duty construction along with a bold message presented in an artistic fashion make these bags truly unique!”  Love it!!  The bags are such a bargain as well! Priced from as little as $15.00. Check out these cool bags on their website!

 

calicodragon

Stella McCartney: Vegan Fashion Line

Stella-McCartney vegan fashion

I’ve been a fan of Stella McCartney since she launched her brand back in the early 2000’s and now even more after discovering that her line can be considered vegan fashion!

I had no idea…while her line might be a bit on the pricey side, I definitely think it’s worth the investment to snag at least a couple of her pieces for your closet. Her designs are timeless, colorful and super chic. I’ve put a couple of outfits together with peices from her newest ready-to-wear collection? You can shop them on her site. You can read more about Stella and her achievements in the fashion industry HERE.

vegan fashion

Delikate Rayne: Quality, Cruelty-Free, U.S. Manufactured Fashion Brand

Delikate-Rayne vegan fashion

Delikate Rayne is a great vegan fashion line if you are looking for the perfect leather alternative.

The vegan line is clean with a classic yet edgy feel and the price range is reasonable for the quality that you get. All garments are made in the U.S.A. by a family owned manufacting company that provides an cruelty free, clean and safe working environment for all it’s employees. The brand was started by two sisters, Komie and Kim who have Eastern Indian roots. They believe in quality over quantity, so most products have a limited quantity available, which helps eliminate unnecessary excess waste and lowers carbon emissions. Their goal is to “provide only the highest caliber of animal friendly fashion while foregoing fast fashion practices.”

Here are a few of the peices that caught my eye, but check out more for yourself on their website

 

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La Isla Swimwear: Sexy & Cruelty Free!

La Isla swimwear is vegan fashion

If you are looking for a new swimsuit for the upcoming summer but want to make sure you are also contributing to a better planet, then I suggest you check out the sexy and cruelty free brand La Isla Swimwear as featured in Sports Illustrated recently.

It has a reputation built on quality and straight up sex appeal! These suits are fire! Makes sense as they are manufactured out of Columbia where sexy girls in sexy swimwear are definitely part of the culture. The facility where the swimsuits are made is cruelty free, uses mostly natural lighting and for the 2015 season they implemented using recycled spandex for many of their suits which is definitely something I like. Additionally they are supporters of Oceans Future Society which is an “organization focused on inspiring and educating people throughout the world to act responsibly for the protection of the ocean”.  We need a whole lot more of that! Our oceans are so precious. 😉

The average price for a suit runs around $150…they also offer men’s board shorts that are made for “an active lifestyle” offering versatility from the water to the gym.  I noticed they seem to be sold out on quite a few websites I checked out, so if you find one you like, you better go ahead and snag it! 

Here are a few of suits that caught my eye:

 

Cruelty Free brand La Isla Swimwear

 

Brooks Running Company: Environmentally Conscious & Employee Friendly!

Brooks Running Company Eco-Friendly

Brooks

For any of you who are avid runners such as myself, you may know that it is not easy to find a great running shoe, much less vegan running shoe, that can support the wear and tear hitting the pavement can put on your knees and feet.

Even more challenging is finding a brand that is also environmentally conscious… well I found one! Actually I know this brand well from back in my days of executive recruiting and they are awesome! Brooks Running Company is based in Seattle, Washington and not only are they conscious of the environment but they also treat their employees like gold and invest a lot of time and energy into really creating an exceptional running shoe. There is not another brand that I can think of that focuses specifically on running like Brooks does and their customers are usually loyal for a lifetime! They offer a great variety, with plenty of bold or neutral designs to choose from. They not only sell shoes, but additionally apparel and gear all designed specifically for runners. I am certainly a fan and if you don’t have a brand you love when it comes to running yet, I highly suggest you check them out. They are sold across various retailers all over the U.S. and you can also shop online.

BrooksRunningCompany